Swimming event organizers hoping to rent the new McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion will be paying more to use the Ohio State facility.

In the newly opened Recreation and Physical Activities Center, the swimming competition facilities replace the previous accommodations at the now demolished Larkins Hall.

In previous years Ohio State rented out Larkins to host events such as high school district swimming and diving championships, but the price to rent the facility has increased and has deterred some organizers from renting from OSU.

“Does it cost more? You bet. But as far as facility comparisons, there is none,” said Kurt Carmen, director of aquatics for the Department of Recreational Sports.

Amenities not available in Larkins Hall that are now at McCorkle include a full data digital scoreboard, spectator seating for 1,750 people, on-deck seating for 480 and an observation balcony.

In addition, the pools are much larger. As opposed to six racing lanes at Larkins, the McCorkle pools can be configured to accommodate 28 lanes of a 25-meter course.

“Of the utmost importance is we don’t want to schedule outside groups and impose on what could be time that the students could be using the pools,” Carmen said. “This place was built for students, student athletes, and instruction.”

Todd Grant, district swimming tournament director for Central Ohio high schools said some groups are upset about the increase in fees.

“It limits the Central Ohio swimming community,” Grant said. “It’s a beautiful facility, but we just can’t afford it. Our event draws 1,500 paid spectators and there isn’t another facility that can accommodate that size of event.”

Carmen said the RPAC service fee paid by main campus students helps to fund the operating costs at McCorkle. Lowering the price to rent the facility to outside groups would mean students fees would have to subsidize those events and Carmen said that is just not acceptable.

“Since all rentals are planned as break even events, we do not predict profits or losses,” Carmen said. “Fees charged are only those to pay for direct related expense. The goal is to break even only and to not supplement the conduct of events with student or membership fees.”

“This project has student fee dollars in it. We couldn’t have student money paying for outside events,” said Mike Dunn, director of Recreational Sports.

Although the price to rent the facility has increased and might not be rented to the same users as Larkins was, Carmen said the trade off is a world-class aquatic facility that has increased in service to students and staff.

New and larger events can now be hosted by OSU, such as the Women’s Big Ten Swimming Championships being held this spring. Other events hosted at Larkins such as the Special Olympics and the Masters Swimming event will continue to rent from OSU. Carmen added OSU hopes to host the Olympic Diving trials in 2008.

“That just wouldn’t have been possible at Larkins,” he said. “Anyone that criticizes this facility hasn’t seen it.”

Figures for the cost of renting the Larkins pool were not available to The Lantern at print time.